In these troubled times (clichéd but no less true), we sometimes want to hear things that remind us of the past. We want to be brought back to yesteryear, to simpler times. Whether we’re listening to something from that bygone era or something that only recalls past times, we’re often drawn to sonic sentimentality and the audial warmth of what’s familiar.

Other times, we find ourselves craving something completely different. Something that challenges our thinking. Something that pushes us to truly experience music in a different way.

The product of a bi-coastal collaboration between LA based composer Ryan Lott and New Yorkers guitarist Rafiq Bhatia and drummer Ian Chan, Son Lux mixes elements of classical, pop and electronica in ways that become something that’s wholly its own. As NPR’s Mike Katzif aptly puts it in his review of Brighter Wounds, Son Lux’s most personal album yet, “with a masterful flair for entwining the acoustic and the electronic, Lott crafts distinctive fluttering melodies, unique textures and dynamic arrangements that sound like no one else.”

To experience tunes that will at once transport you and root you in the here and now, head to Neumos tonight for a genre-defying evening of cinematic beauty.

During the Renaissance, art and intellect mingled as an equally provocative and exciting duo. Both were highly valued and experimented with during this era. From Michelangelo to Galileo, from Shakespeare to Copernicus, huge strides were made in human civilization within the span of a couple hundred years.

Fast forward to 2016, where facts are being ignored for “gut feelings” and most artists are struggling to pay rent. Sometimes, much to our lament, it seems that art and intellect have failed.

However, maybe we’re about to experience a second Renaissance. At least, that’s the little glimmer you’re left with after speaking with musician John Grant.

Grant is bringing brains back into art in a big way. After becoming enamored with Iceland after a visit, the classically trained and over-educated musician moved there to create his second album and to add the Icelandic language to his repertoire (he already knows at least four other languages).

“Before moving there, I wasn’t attached to anything at the time and I was having some success with my first record, so I had a little bit of flexibility,” Grant explained during a conversation with us. “I was invited to play in Iceland so I went there and I just sort of freaked out over it. Got excited about the people I was meeting there and the landscape and the language so I decided to stay there and learn the language and make my second album and sort of build a little life for myself there and I haven’t regretted it.”

He’s become proficient to the point where he wrote the lyrics to Iceland’s Eurovision song last year. In Iceland, he finds a certain vocational equality that is lacking elsewhere.

“They don’t really encourage certain careers as being more valuable than other types of careers. They don’t put emphasis on being a lawyer or being a doctor as being better than being an artist.”

The title Grant’s latest album, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, is the English translation of the Icelandic word for “midlife crisis” and the Turkish word for “nightmare.” But despite the rather grim title, the album delights the senses with clever lyrics and vivid swells of stringed instruments juxtaposed with spoken word and the electronic staccato of synths. It is an auditory blend of brooding balanced with blithe.

Grey Tickles, Black Pressure defies what we’ve come to expect from an album. The songs stand individually rather than as a cohesive story, jerking the listener to attention with every track transition. And within Grant’s cynicism for the modern world, listeners will surely smirk at the candidness or cheekiness of his lyrical wordplay.

“I’ve pretty much been turning to humor since I was born. Sort of as a survival mechanism but I also just really love good humor,” Grant said. “I’ve always included that naturally in my music sort of as a reaction to myself. And that’s a reaction to the absurdity of life and the difficulties of life and the difficulties of getting perspective and overcoming yourself. Leaving the past behind you and being in the present takes a large dose of humor.”

He has a knack for finding comedy in dark times, of which Grant has overcome several. He struggled with addiction in the past (he is now 11 years sober) and announced he is HIV positive at the Meltdown Festival in London. Fortunately, he always seems to find the silver lining and cites comedic powerhouses like Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Gary Larson and Looney Toons among his long list of his greatest influences.

The tour for Grey Tickles, Black Pressure will be passing through Seattle this evening at the Showbox. Grant is planning on putting on a great show.

“Look forward to some authenticity in music,” said Grant. “Expect to see three people on stage who are passionate about music. Who are very excited to be there and to connect with them in whatever way is possible given the atmosphere of the moment. We’re doing what we love to do and we feel really grateful to be doing it.”

We were also pleased to hear Grant has a particular appreciation of Seattle’s musical legacy, and of the next-level audiences in the Emerald City.

“I do really like playing Seattle because there’s a really deep appreciation for music up there,” said Grant. “There’s quite a long history of great music coming out of Seattle. I think people in Seattle are really appreciative of a wide range of music and it makes me look forward to going there.”

Catch John Grant at the Showbox at the Market tonight – doors open at 7:00 PM.

This week brings to town some of our favorite artists and personalities from yesteryear who have reemerged, reinvented themselves or just plain survived through various iterations. In addition to great shows from bands you’ve quite likely obsessed over for the past decade, this week sees the premier of the Marco Collins documentary, The Glamour & The Squalor. Keep on scrolling for our top picks and videos below.

The Walkmen frontman builds on the band’s experimentation with a surprisingly fresh homage to the era of Frank Sinatra

]]>https://sealivemusic.com/2015/06/02/best-of-the-week-two-walkmen-elephant-6-icons-and-a-dj-doc-premiere/feed/1sealivemusicslm_060215There Are Plenty of Great Shows in Town This Week, These Are the 5 Greatesthttps://sealivemusic.com/2015/05/11/there-are-plenty-of-great-shows-in-town-this-week-these-are-the-5-greatest/
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Sometimes we struggle to come up with a decent handful of great shows to highlight. This was not one of those weeks. From old favorites like The Cave Singers to relatively recent obsessions like the Other Lives to newly formed collaborations like Unlikely Friends, this week brings a variety of great live music options to town.

As always, keep on scrolling for this week’s recommendations and videos. Head over to our calendar for a look further down the line.

5/12 (Tuesday) Other Lives, Riothorse Royale @ Neumos – 8:00pm

With rich harmonies and dramatic crescendos, Other Lives bring their atmospheric and arresting melodies to Capitol Hill

]]>https://sealivemusic.com/2015/03/25/5-best-of-the-rest-of-the-week-325/feed/0sealivemusic325Best Live Music of the Week: Tycho, Pickwick and more [Week of 3/16]https://sealivemusic.com/2015/03/16/best-live-music-of-the-week-tycho-pickwick-and-more-week-of-316/
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At first glance this week seemed to be sorely lacking in good shows. However, with a little digging, we uncovered some gems for the most discerning of Emerald City music fans. We’re pleased to recommend some pretty intimate shows this week as well, with the largest venue being the Showbox SoDo, so you can get up close and personal with some great artists this week.

And, if it was a competition to see which venue can book the greatest number of recommendable shows for the week, we’d give the trophy to Sunset Tavern, one of our favorite little Ballard venues, as its calendar is looking pretty great this week!

3/18 (Wednesday) Tycho @ Showbox SoDo

Downtempo, ambient chillwave from San Fran where each song feels like floating through a new dream sequence.

Emerald City dwellers, rejoice! After a week chock full of great musical options, our recommendations culminate with the Grand Reopening of Chop Suey in Capitol Hill! We can’t wait to find out if the new owners have stayed true to the original vibe of the venue, but based on the debut lineup, we think the Chop Suey will maintain its superbly gritty underground live music reputation.

The show is already sold out, however. But if you can’t finagle a ticket to the Chop Suey Reopening, you can’t go wrong with any of the other shows we recommend this week.

3/10 (Tuesday) Cumulus, Chris Staples @ Fremont Abbey

Unassuming but outstandingly talented singer/songwriter from Florida joins Cumulus for an intimate evening at the Abbey.

3/12 (Thursday) Tweedy @ Neptune Theatre

Wilco’s engaging frontman and principle songwriter hits the road with his firstborn son. The cherry on top is this star-studded music video.

3/12 (Thursday) Beardyman @ Nectar

We are forever grateful to a guy from Best Buy’s GeekSquad for making us aware of this beatboxer/DJ extraordinaire who rose from YouTube fandom to now doing TED Talks.

3/13 (Friday) Dead Moon, Girl Trouble @ Chop Suey

The eclectic, historical and recently shuttered Capitol Hill venue is rising from the ashes after its brief but weighty hiatus.

]]>https://sealivemusic.com/2015/03/09/the-phoenix-rises-chop-suey-reopens-amid-week-of-great-live-music-week-of-39/feed/0sealivemusicSLM_09032015Something for Everyone: Best Live Music in Seattle [week of 2/23]https://sealivemusic.com/2015/02/23/something-for-everyone-best-live-music-in-seattle-week-of-223/
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One of the best things about living in the Emerald City is the fact that on any given night there’s usually music to fit any fancy, and today’s post is further proof. From folksy singer-songwriter tunes, to electro-dance mashups, to local grunge-metal, our recommendations run the gamut this week.

2/24 (Tuesday) Brett Harris, Kevin Murphy @ Sunset Tavern

Member of Big Star’s Third and solo artist joins forces with the Moondoggies frontman for an evening of downtempo indie rock.

2/27 (Friday) Kawehi @ Barboza

A talented vocalist, a keyboard, and some great looping gear = skillful and spritely dance (re)mixes.

2/28 (Saturday) Sandrider, Kinski @ Neumos

Easily one of the best metal bands in the PacNW these days, and one of our Bumbershoot faves.